Is American Idol Preparing For The Return To Television?

People.com is reporting that ABC television has all but put a bow on a deal to bring back Fox’s hit reality singing talent show, American Idol.

If they finalize the few remaining details, the show could return to the small screen as soon this coming spring.

Variety recently reported that ABC already has a “framework” for a deal in place. They also allege that ABC beat out both NBC and the show’s former network Fox, as well for the revival. American Idol ran for 15 seasons on Fox, and just wrapped their run in April of last year.

For much of the show’s run, it practically obliterated anything that ran against when it came to television ratings. However, many believe that NBC’s The Voice was the beginning of the end for the highly successful reality singing show. It will be interesting to see how producer FremantleMedia makes adjustments to revive what became a burden for Fox at the end.

Just this week former host, Ryan Seacrest (freshly landing as Kelly Ripa’s new and permanent “Live” co-host) said that he hopes to also host another major network TV show. Could that be a “hint” at producers that he’d like his old job back? Certainly there are clandestine meetings going on in network back rooms discussing details of that deal (as I type this) as well.

That being said, Seacrest’s former show star, Simon Cowell, will likely not re-join the franchise as he produces NBC’s summer talent foray, America’s Got Talent, which by the way will see a new host itself…Tyra Banks. She replaces former “front person” Nick Cannon who left the show after a standup comedy special he did for Showtime, “Stand Up, Don’t Shoot,” in which he cracked jokes about “white people”. This was also not HIS first controversy with non-ethnics. He also took some heat for a “white face” character he created to promote his album, “White People Party Music.” Apparently, the network had enough of Nick and the two parted companies. He claims they threatened to silence him and his conscientious wouldn’t allow him to live with that burden.

But, I digress. Let’s get back to the basis for this post. You can likely expect ABC to announce Idol as well as, when, what time, and it’s debut date later this month at the network’s “upfront.” The “upfront” is where the networks announce all their new shows, give previews and discuss all the details to the local affiliates, and quite frankly, anyone who will show an interest. Like us.